Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has left a strong impression on Afghanistan’s former T20I captain Rashid Khan, showcasing a fearless attitude and outstanding talent at an impressively young age. Sooryavanshi was awarded his India T20I cap at Old Trafford at just 15 years and 99 days, setting a new record as India’s youngest international debutant since Sachin Tendulkar’s 1989 Test debut. In July 2026, the teenager received his India T20I cap and has already made an impact on the international stage, earning the Player of the Series award during the tour of Zimbabwe.
Sooryavanshi made a dramatic entrance onto the IPL stage later in 2025 and then cemented his reputation on the world’s biggest stage at the Under-19 World Cup, delivering a memorable innings in the final. But that was just the start. He followed that with a standout season in IPL 2026, delivering fearless cricket against the world’s top bowlers and playing a pivotal role in guiding the Rajasthan Royals into the playoffs. His swift ascent has now positioned him as one of cricket’s most closely monitored young talents.
Afghanistan’s spin sensation Rashid Khan also lauded Sooryavanshi, praising the young player’s fearless style and game-reading skills, regardless of his age. The Afghanistan star highlighted his shot selection, game awareness, and innate strength as traits that distinguish him from other young players.
Talking with Times of India, Khan said, “Well, as I mentioned – fearless cricket. And he backs up his skills and knows his shots. I think his shot selection is more important, and he knows his game plan against any side, any bowler, anytime. You hardly see those kinds of things at a very young age; it comes with time, but he already has it. The way he plays fearlessly is what makes him unique. And the power he has, the hand-eye coordination; I think it is something very different. You hardly see that in any [other] player. He is a god-gifted talent”
Rashid also drew parallels to his own path, acknowledging that although he possessed talent at a young age, Sooryavanshi’s ability to smash huge sixes and excel on major platforms at just 15 makes him stand out. He called the young player a rare talent who has already demonstrated his ability beyond the IPL.
He further added, “I wasn’t that talented, to be honest, at that age, but yes, the skill was there. But I don’t know if I could hit those big sixes at that age, as he has been hitting. But as I said, he is a unique talent, and he has shown it not only in the IPL, but even in the Indian team as well, so I think he is someone very special.”
